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Meaningful Citizen Engagement
Tim Woods
March, 2009
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Old School…
“Neither starting-place nor appointed destination…
and where the enterprise is to keep afloat on an even keel.”
Michael Oakeshott
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Today…
“We seem to be moving towards a different kind of system
in which working directly with the public may be just as important
as representing their interests.”
Steve Burkholder, Mayor of Lakewood, California
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Challenge:
How to integrate public opinion and public input into the decision making process.
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Two Kinds of Leadership
1. Decide, Advocate, Defend Leader reviews options & champions the ‘right policy’
2. Inclusive, Dialogic, Genuine process Leader champions the ‘right process’ – to harvest
energy, creativity and wisdom of the whole community
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Citizens….Ignore Them at your Peril
Government is a service sector…and expectations are high and getting higher
Being consulted is one of the metrics of modern ‘service’
Satisfaction with government service translates into legitimacy for government
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Use Citizen Power…
Citizens hold progressive values…that can sustain
progressive policies and politicians.
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Purpose of Public Participation
Public preference plays a part in decisions Adds local knowledge to decision-making Fairness and Justice Lends legitimacy for policy decisions Legal Requirement
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Public Hearings: Nobody Listens, Nobody Cares
Only the protagonists/antagonists participate Format promotes confrontational politics
Battleground rhetoric, media coverage Format is all about power relationships Undermines faith in governance Propels elected officials to adopt ‘decide + sell’ strategy
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Citizenship 2.0
Citizens are: Highly Educated
Informed, Access to Expertise On-line
Connected at home and at work Self-organizing
Blogs, twitter, social networking
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Public Participation 2.0….Collaborative Participation
‘Return on Participation’ Transparency of process and purpose Search for solutions Dialogue that is constructive and reshapes
perspectives Builds trust among stakeholders Develops networks among participants
Decisions that are understood and respected
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
So What’s the Difference???
One Way Talk…
Elite or Self-selected…
Reactive/Controversial…
Knowledge Transfer…
…Dialogue
…Diverse Participants
…Ongoing Exchange
…Knowledge Exchange
VS.
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Davis, California….yes we can
Voters reject a tax increase…leaving multi-million dollar deficit to repair
City council appoints Citizen Budget Commission – with representation from ‘tax hike, service cuts champions along with city staff, other representative community voices
Commission learns about budget, programs, services Result: unanimous agreement, and ratified by voters
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Blockages Along the Way
Sharing influence with citizens perceived as a threat Lack of collaborative skills, officials, public Busy citizens have limited time Cost of designing, staffing more genuine efforts Partisanship is embedded A more legitimate voice for citizens is not in the comfort
zone of the political right
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Methodologies at a Glance
Deliberative Polling Appreciative Inquiry Choice Work Sustained Dialogue
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Your City’s Website:Open for Citizen Input?
Home page – “Have Your Say”
Mandate – what’s up? Process overview … how
process fits into decision-making
Timelines
Meetings…format, timing, location
Publications …research, consultation process, access to submissions
Participation …by email, in person, submissions
Contact information
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Useful Links
www.deliberate.ca The Deliberation Network. Find case histories, links to dialogue methodologies
www.c2d2.ca Canadian Community for Dialolgue & Deliberation
www.thataway.org US-based equivalent to c2d2 with enormous resource library
Coming to Public Judgment, Daniel Yankelovich
The Deliberation Network, March 2009
Tim Woods, [email protected]: 250 388-4915 Fax: 250 388-4916Cell: 250 480-6668
